Automatic square-can heading and crimping machine.



PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

A. LOTZ. AUTOMA'EIO SQUARE CAN HEADING AND GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19,1904.

8 SHEETSSHEET 1.

I720 I Z/buyafiaw L0 No. 812,857. PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

A. LOTZ.

AUTOMATIC SQUARE CAN HEADING AND ORIMPING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR.19, 1904.

N 8 SHEETS-SHEET 2. N "3 No. 812,857. PATENTED FEB. 20,1906.

A. LOTZ. AUTOMATIC SQUARE CAN HEADING AND GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.19, 1904.

8 SHEETS- SHEET 3.

. No.1 812,857. PATENTBD FEB. 20, 1906.

A. LOTZ. AUTOMATIC SQUARE CAN HEADING AND GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED MAR.19, 1904.

8 SHEETS-SHEBT 4.

PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

A. LOTZ. AUTOMATIC SQUARE CAN HEADING AND GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MARHIE), 1904.

8 SHEETSSHBET 5.

PATENTED FEB. 20, 1 906 A. LOTZ.

AUTOMATIC SQUARE CAN HBADING AND GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION I'ILED MAR. 19, 1904.

8 SHEBTSSHEET 6.

PATENTEDFEB. 20, 1906.

A. LOTZ. AUTOMATIC SQUARE CAN HEADING AND GRIMPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR.19, 1904.

8 SHEETS-SIIEBT 7.

PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

. A. LOTZ. AUTOMATIC SQUARE CAN HEADING AND CRIMPING MACHINE.

I APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 19, 1904. F1 7. 7i

8 SHEBTS-SHIBBT B.

UNITED STATES PATENT @FFICE.

AUGUSTUS LOT Z, OF SAN FRANCISCO. CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO AMER- ICAN CAN COMPANY, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORA- TION OF NEW JERSEY.

AUTOMATIC SQUARE-CAN HEADING AND CRIIVIPING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

- Application filed March 19, 1904. Serial No. 198,891.

' ing is a specification.

i is a detail elevation looking from line 9 9 of' My invention relates to can heading and crimping machines, andmore particularly to machines for applying heads to square or rectangular can-bodies and crimping the same thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide an automatic square-can heading and crimping machine of a simple, efficient, and durable construction by means of which the heads may be automatically applied to square or rectangular can-bodies and the heads crimped thereon rapidly and cheaply.

My invention consists in the means I employ to accomplish this result-that is to say, it consists in the novel construction of parts and devices and in the novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown and described.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a s uare-can heading and crimping machine em odying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Figs; 3 and 4 are end elevations looking from opposite sides. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a detail elevation showing the cam for operating the can-body clamps. Fig. 7 is a detail view, partly in section, showing the canbody clam s. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on line 8 8 0 Fig. 5, showing the can head chutes, heading-plunger, and carrier. Fig. 9

Fig. 5, showing the crimpingchucks and other parts. Fig. 10 is a detail section, enlarged, on line 8 8 of Fig. 5, showing the heading-plungers and other adjacent parts. Fig. 11 is a detail section on line 11 11 of Fig. 5, showing the crimping-chucks closed upon the can. Fig. 12 is a detail section on line 12 12 of Fig. 1, showing the can-head feed-escapement mechanism and other parts, the canbody carrier'being shown in dotted lines. Fig. 13 is a detail section on line 13 13 of Fig. 2, showing the pattern-can mechanism for guiding the crimping-rollers. Fig. 14 is a detail section on line 14 14 of Fig. 2, showing the mechanism for intermittently rotating the can-body carrier and other parts hereinafter described. Fig. '15 is a detail section on line 15 15 of Fig. 14, showing the crimping-roller-operating mechanism and other parts. Fig. 16 is a detail elevation showing the crimping-rolls. Fig. 17 is a detail section on line 17 17 of Fig. 14.

The automatic machine embodying my invention, as shown in said drawings, comprises in operative combination an intermittently-revolving can-body feed-wheel or carrier having pockets to receive the cans, opening and closing can body holdingclamps 'mounted on the can-body carrier and automatically opened and closed to clamp the can-bodies and center the same with the canheads, a can-body chute, a pair of can-head chutes, a pair of oscillating can-head feeders operating to feed the can-heads one by one, reciprocating can-heading plungers for pushing the can-heads on the can-bodies, side guides for the headed cans, a pair of rotating and reciprocating crimper-chucks for chucking and rotating the headed can during the crimping operation, crimping-rolls mounted on oscillating arms or levers, oscillating segments for rotating the crimping-chucks, cams and levers for reciprocating the headingplungers and crimping-chucks, mechanism for intermittently revolving the can-bodycarrier or feed wheels, mechanism for opening and closing the can-body clamps, and mechanism for operating the oscillating canhead feed devices or escapements, as will be more readily understood by reference to the drawings and the detail description of the same.

In said drawings,Are resents the frame of the machine, the same eing of any suitable form or construction for giving support to the various operative parts.

B is the intermittently-rotating can-body carrier or feed-wheel, the same preferably comprising two disks secured to an intermittently-rotating shaft B. The can-body carrier or feed wheel B is provided with a series of can-body-receiving pockets 1) therein, each furnished With' opening and closing can-bod clamps b b, pivoted or hinged at b b to the can-body feed-wheel B, and having a pivotpin b connecting them together at their in ner ends'or arms. The can-body clamps b are preferably closed and held yieldingly closed by springs b having seats I) on the can-body carrier-wheel B, and acting against shoulders b on the clamp I) through the connecting-pins If. The can-body clamps b are automatically and positively closed to firmly clamp the can-body and center it with the heading-plungers D by a stationary cam or guide a on the frame of the machine, which is engaged by the antifriction-roller b on the hinge-pin b which connects the pivot-clamps together. The hinged can-body clamps are automatically opened after the can-body is chucked or grasped between the rotating and reciprocating can-head crimping-chucks G G bymeans of a vibrating leverb",pivoted at 12 to the frame of the machine and operated by a cam E on the cam-shaft E through the connecting-levers b b and link I). The can-body-clamp-operating lever b is preferably furnished with antifriction inner arms of clamps b .to engage the roller b The spring-seats b b on the can-body carrier or feed wheel B are each furnished with an adjustable stop I) to limit the closing movement of the hinged clamps b 1). body clamps b b are positively opened at the can-body discharge position of the carrier B to permit the headed and crimped cans to automatically discharge from the 1 carrier or feed -wheel B.

carrier by means of a stationary cam or projection a on the frame of the machine,which en ages the antifriction-roller b on the pin b is the can-body feed-chute, along which the can-bodies are fed or pushed into the pockets of the feed-wheels and between the spring-actuated opening and closing clamps b b thereon.

-; The can-heading plungers D D reciprocate in" suitable can-head guides D at the base of the can-head chutes F to push the can-heads onto the can-body held in registry therewith by the can-body clamps b b on the can-body The can heading plungers D are reciprocated as required to push the can-heads on the can-bodies by their stems d, furnished with collars d, fixed thereon, and springs 61 operating against said collars at one end and against the sta tionary frame at a thrust-collars d fixed to said stems d, and operated by vibrating levers d}, having each an antifriction-roller d engaging a cam 01 on the shaft E The plungers are yieldingly moved forward to push the can-heads on the can-body by the springs d when the cams d and operating-levers cl permit the springs so to do at the proper time. The can-heads are intermittently fed down through the can-head chutes F into the can-head guide D in front of the headingplunger D when the heading-plunger is retracted by the oscillating can-head feed-es- 6 5 capement F, having two curved arms f f,

The canwhich alternately project in the path of the can-head as the feedescapement oscillates on its shaft or pivot f". The canhead feed-escapements F for the can-head chutes F are intermittently oscillated as required, each by a cam E on the cam-shaft E, through the connecting-lever f connectingrod f, having fixed collar f spring f and adjustable collar f connected to the oscillating escapement F. The con'necting-rodf is adjustably secured to the collar f by screwthreads f and nut f".

The rotating and reciprocating crimpingchucks G G each have an injector or movable ring g,furnished with a spring-support g to prevent the can-heads from sticking to the crimping-chuck and to cause the free discharge of the headed and crimped cans after the crimping operation is completed. The shafts G of the crimping chucks or disks G are reciprocated as required by a cam g on the shaft E, which actuates an operatinglever 9 pivoted to the frame at g and connected by a roller 9 with a collar g, the shaft G being rotatably connected with the collar so that the shaft can rotate in respect to the collar, while the collar is fixed longitudinally in respect to the shaft. The crimpingchuck shafts G G are each rotated as required to cooperate with the crimping-rollers by means of gears Gr thereon, which mesh with oscillating segment-racks G on rockshafts G, having a crank-arm G connected by an adjustable link G: with a crank-arm G on the shaft G I The crimping-rollers H are mounted each on an oscillating arm H, secured to a rockshaft H The crimping-roller H is caused to follow the contour of the square or rectangu lar can as it is rotated by the crimping-chucks by means of a attern-cam H on the chuckshaft G which engages rollers H on arms H secured to a sleeve H, surrounding the crimping-roller rock-shaft H The sleeve H is connected to the rock-shaft H through the arm H which carries an eccentric stud H connected by an arm H with an eccentric stud H mounted in an arm H secured to the sleeve H The eccentric stud H has an arm H connected by a link H to an arm H on the shaft H having an arm H carrying a roller H engaging the crimpingroller-operating cam H on the shaft E. The shaft E has bevel-gears H meshing with bevel-gears H on the short shafts H.

The can-body carrier or feed wheel B or its shaft B is intermittently rotated and accurately sto ped in position to cause the canbody hol ing-clamps b b thereon to register with the can-heading plungers, the crimpingdisks, and the feed-chutes as required by means of a Geneva stop mechanism comprising a notched disk or wheel B and crankarm B having antifriction-roller B secured to the shaft G The shaft G is continuously ICC rotated by means of a bevel-gear B thereon meshing with a bevel-gear B on a shaft B having a gear B meshing with a gear B on the power-shaft B. The gear B also meshes with a gear B on the short shaft H thus communicating motion to the cam-shaft E and shaft E through gears H and H .v

Side guides K K on each side of the carrierwheel B hold the cans endwise in position in the clamps b b of the carrier-wheel as the headed can is carried forward from the heading position to the crimping position.

I claim- 1. In a square-can heading and crimping machine, the combination with an intermittently-rotating can-body carrier or feed wheel furnished with pockets to receive the canbodies, and with opening and closing springactuated can-body clamps, of a can-bodyfeed device or chute, can-head chutes, oscillating can-head feed-escapements for the can-head chutes, can-head guides at the base of the canhead chutes, reciprocating can-heading plungers for pushing the can-heads onto the canbodies, reciprocating and rotating crimperchucks, crimpingrolls mounted on oscillating arms, pattern-cams on the crimpingchuck shafts, oscillating arms having rollers engaging the pattern-cams, mechanism connecting the crimping-roller arms with the pattern-cam-roller arms, and an operating-cam 01;1 the crimping-rollers, substantially as speci- 2. In a square-can heading and crimping machine, the combination with an intermittently-rotating can-body feed-Wheel having pockets to receive the can-bodies and opening and closing can-body clamps, can-head feed-chutes, can-head feed devices, reciprocating can-heading plungers, reciprocating and rotating crimping-chucks, crimping-rollers, and mechanism for operating the crimping-rollers, means for automatically and positively opening the can-body clamps substantially as specified.

3. In a square-can heading and crimping machine, the combination with an intermittently-rotating can-body feed-wheel having pockets to receive the can-bodies, opening and closing can-body clamps, can-head chutes, can-head feeders, reciprocating heading plungers, reciprocating and rotating crimping chucks, pattern cams, crimpingrollers, connecting mechanism between the crimping-rollers and pattern-cams, and a pressure-cam for operating the crimping rollers, substantially as specified.

4E. The combination with can-head chutes and heading-plungers, of an intermittentlyrevolving can-body feed-wheel, having pockets to receive the can-bodies, and opening and closing can-body clamps, and springs for yieldingly closing the clamps, means for automatically and positively opening the canbody clamps substantially as specified.

ets to receive the can-bodies, and opening and closing can-body clamps, a spring for yieldingly closing the clamps, a stationary cam for positively holding the clamps closed in the heading position, and a movable device for positively opening the clamps, substantially as specified.

7. The combination with can-head chutes and heading-plungers, of an intermittentlyrevolving can-body feed-wheel having pockets to receive the can-bodies, and opening and closing can-body clamps, a spring for yieldingly closing the clamps, a stationary cam for positively holding the clamps closed in the heading position, reciprocating and rotating crimping-chucks, crimping-rollers and a movable lever for positively opening the can-body clamps at the crimping position, substantially as specified.

8. The combination with can-head chutes and heading-plungers, of an intermittentlyrevolving can-body feed-wheel having pockets to receive the can-bodies, and opening and closing can-body clamps, a spring for yieldingly closing the clamps, a stationary cam for positively holding the clamps closed in the heading position, reciprocating and rotating crimping-chucks, crimping-rollers and a movable lever for positively opening the can-body clamps at the crimping position, and a stationary cam for positively opening the can-body clamps at the discharge position, substantially as specified.

9. In a square-can heading and crimping machine, the combination with can-head chutes, of reciprocating heading-plungers, an intermittently-revolving can-body feed wheel having pockets therein to receive the can-bodies, and automatically opening and closing can-body clamps, reciprocating and rotating crimping-shafts and crimping-rollers, and means for positively opening the can-body clamps at the crimping position substantially as specified.

10. In a square-canheading and crimping machine, the combination with can-head chutes, of reciprocating heading plungers, an intermittently revolving can body feedwheel having pockets therein to receive the can-bodies, and opening and closing canbody clamps, reciprocating and rotating crimping-shafts, pattern-cams and crimpingrollers, connecting mechanism between the pattern-cams and the crimping-rollers, and means for operating the crimping-rollers, substantially as specified.

11. In a square-can heading and crimping machine, a can-body feed-Wheel having pock ets therein to receive the can-bodies, opening and closing can-body clamps, and springs for closing said clamps, and a movable positively operated device for opening the clamps at the crimping position substantially as specified.

12. In a square-can heading and crimping machine, a can-body feed-Wheel having pockets therein to receive the can-bodies and opening and closing can-body clamps, springs for closing said clamps, in combination With a positively-operated device for automatically opening said clamps at the crimping position, substantially as specified.

13. In a square-can heading and crimping machine, a can-body feed-Wheel having pockets therein to receive the. can-bodies'and automatically opening and closing can-body clamps, springs for closing said clamps, in combination with a stationary cam for positively closing and holding closed the clamps at the heading position, and means for automatically opening the clamps at the crimping position, substantially as specified.

14. In a square-can heading and crimping machine,a can-body feed-Wheel having p0ck ets therein to receive the can-bodies, and

opening and closing can body clamps, springs for closing said clamps, in combination with a stationary cam for positively closing and holding closed the clamps, and a movable positively-operated device for opening the clamps, substantially as specified.

AUGUSTUS LOTZ. Witnesses Tnos. R. KENT, CHAR ES E. VBULL. 

